Letters to the Editor for Feb. 22

On Feb. 12 Greg Walden sent out an email message with a list of seven issues that most concerned the recipient. You could select only one; not rank them in your priority.

The wording in most of the items was designed to elicit the answer Walden wanted to hear. Making up questions that have two subjects which should have two different answers or be two separate questions, i.e. “Balancing the federal budget and reducing spending” or questions so deliberately skewed to confirm his own interest, i.e. “Real, patient-centered health care reform” and “Saving and strengthening Social Security and Medicare”; or such obvious questions that they should not even be asked, just acted on, i.e. “Ensuring our men and women in uniform receive the benefits they have earned.”

To me, this little disingenuous questionnaire was designed and sent out to garner support for his own agenda, not to find out about real constituent concerns.

If Walden is to represent the people of his district, he must do better than this.

Gary Fields

Hood River

Help schools teach guitar

Why does the government give the military unlimited amounts of money to buy guns, but my school (Hood River Middle School) does not have a big enough budget to afford a guitar core class? I think kids’ education should be more important than war.

I am also contacting Hood River City Hall regarding this issue.

Brandon Batson

Hood River

New rep needed

Apparently voters are to assume the race for Oregon’s 2nd congressional seat is a given, considering the massive fundraising efforts of the incumbent. Before voters re-elect Greg Walden, they need to learn of the Transatlantic Policy Network and its aims, and ask some important questions.

The TPN is an institution which brings together business and governmental leaders from the U.S. and Europe to discuss the economic and political merging of the United States and the European Union. Yes, that is correct. Their objective, according to their website, is “to facilitate constructive dialogue at a strategic level between the worlds of business and politics on both sides of the Atlantic ... and to promote and assist the convergence of the EU/US government policies.”

TPN boasts a Congressional Group, of which Greg Walden is a member.

Voters must ask Greg Walden why he would participate in a group which seeks to subvert America’s government and betray the rights of his constituents which are protected by the U.S. Constitution. Neither he nor any official have the authority to change this form of government.

Voters of the 2nd district deserve and should demand better of their congressional representative.

Allan Page

Portland

Nice job

Just a quick thanks to the construction crew on State Street for filling the giant potholes during the times the road is open to public traffic. Sure makes using that stretch more pleasant.

Marg Guth

Hood River

Sticker shockers

During HRVHS H.E.A.L.T.H. Media Club Sticker Shock event we went to Safeway, Rite Aid, Rosauers, Mercado Guadalajara, Clem’s and Mid Valley Market to place stickers that warned adults not to buy alcohol for minors. The stickers also said that there is a fine of up to $500 if that law is broken. We placed 2,000 stickers on beer cases!

This was a fun and very entertaining experience that could not have happened without the cooperation of these stores.

Crystal Flores

Hood River

We, the H.E.A.L.T.H. Media club, went out sticker shocking.

What we do for this is to go to stores with their permission to put stickers on beer to keep people aware of the punishment that comes from buying beer for minors.

This was my first year of doing this for H.E.A.L.T.H. Media. I found it to be very fun and I enjoyed it a lot.

There were only four people doing it the day I helped. We were the over-achieving team. We accomplished a lot! We went to four stores, and had 1,000 stickers to stick.

We had fun doing it, and I look forward to doing it again next year. I can say we were the all-star team!

Jorge Calderon

Hood River

The H.E.A.L.T.H. Media club from Hood River Valley High School went sticker shocking. Sticker shocking is a project that we do to inform adults that it is illegal to buy or sell beer to those who are underage.

On this project we went to Safeway, Rite-Aid, Rosauers, Mercado Guadalajara, Clem’s and Mid Valley Market.

Our experience was very fun. We used 1,000 stickers the first day in 40 minutes! We used another 1,000 stickers the second day. At the end of the day we had fun and helped out our community.

America Flores

Hood River

The H.E.A.L.T.H. Media club recently did an event called Sticker Shock. Sticker Shock is an event were we go around to stores and put warning stickers on cases of beer. We did this to remind people to be responsible with alcohol especially around children.

The sticker stated a warning and the penalty for giving minors alcohol. We went to six different stores and used a total of 2,000 stickers.

I would like to thank all of the stores who participated: Safeway, RiteAid, Mercado Guadalajara, Clem’s and Mid Valley Market.

Elise Back

Hood River

Re-creating recreation

I want to express my gratitude for the work Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation does to support our community. In particular the access to urban trails and parks that makes it easy for folks to get outside.

Now as your board considers its next steps with Barrett Park I would ask you to consider a wider and more sustainable project for Barrett Park than a space for radio-controlled flyers. Would you consider re-creating the idea of what recreation can be, what a park could be?

Food forests and community learning gardens are just two examples of how parks are being re-created. Food forests like the Beacon Food Forest in Seattle (beaconfoodforest.org) can grow hundreds of different kinds of edibles that are available to the public.

May I suggest the board think “partnerships” and engage the resources available locally for input? Like Michael Becker, a permaculture expert, who heads up the Food and Conservation Science program at Hood River Middle School; or Gorge Grown, who supports sustainable food farming and distribution in the Columbia River Gorge; and Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute, which provides educational opportunities, with an emphasis on stewardship and a sense of wonder, in the natural systems of the Columbia River Gorge.

It seems that Barrett Park could in fact grow food, community and good- clean outdoor fun for many more people than a cost-prohibitive hobby like radio-controlled flyers.

Erika Rench

Hood River

Keep roads safe

Do you want your child driving on a Friday night at 11:30?

I’m not comfortable on the road at that time and I have been driving for 20 years. The reason? Impaired drivers are a threat to everybody else on the road.

The legalization of marijuana will unquestionably result in more people who are impaired operating motor vehicles. I, for one, would like my roads to be safer. How about you?